Friday, November 27, 2009

To put the defeat against Bordeaux behind you, how are you approaching the match against Cagliari?

“I think we have enough experience to help us digest even the most negative moments. The good thing about football is of having many commitments and even the fact that after two or three days another obstacle turns up and therefore our minds are now focused on Cagliari in order to try and come back”.

After Cagliari, there will be two fundamental matches, the first one against Inter, in the championship and then against Bayern in the Champions League: due you feel the pressure of these two matches?

“A certain amount of responsibility is inevitable, even because I think that the fact of wearing a jersey like that of Juventus is already something very important and prestigious, which must go hand in hand with the history of this club and therefore even with the objectives that the club has always established, that is those of winning whenever and whatever it may be”.

About the criticism of Melo, Amauri and Diego after the match against Bordeaux: what did you think of them? Did you manage to speak to them?

“Yes, sure. I often speak to them. They are very serene guys, excellent professionals. Surely, the criticism which was addressed to them should be shared by us because at the end of the day the truth is one: we lose as a team and win as a team. This is the only certainty I have. Clearly, the fact that theyw ere attacked hurt me and I think it hurt the whole group because such an attack should hold everyone responsible and must make sure that this group works harder to come out of this moment of difficulty. It would be the best thing for everyone, to give ourselves great performances and good victories”.

Do you have any advice for them seeing your long experience at Juventus?

“Surely when you join Juventus everything changes and that which is expected from you when you are considered a great player, and they are great players, is enormous. I think that at that moment when that a false step is taken, it is inevitable for the new players to get the blame. However reality is different, reality is that as soon as they lack a bit in giving the input we know, it is because there are a number of problems that do not allow them to perform at their best.

This attack on them must not exempt all the others from their faults because we all feel responsible and it is only fair that this sense of responsibility touches everyone. Then to say the truth, I think they are three great champions, who all Europe if not the whole world wanted and Juve managed to sign them before the best football clubs. Certainly, in all honesty, I am very happy to have them in my team and I am convinced they will help us win something important”.

Are they tranquil?

“They are very tranquil, even because they are not careless or the last of the class. When they came here, they had already won something important and therefore they do not need to prove anything. I think that in these moments, it is only with strength, the help of your team mates and the strength of a great group, that one can emerge without paying further consequences. This is also because they don’t need it, it is nkt afir and neither we need it”.

What about the disagreeing voices heard in your dressing rooms after the match against Bordeaux: what do you have to say about that?

“I answer that all the eye to eye talks we had from the start of the season up to now, have always been very constructive. Each one of us always brought his ideas and his vision of the problems. It is clear that the coach must take the situation into his hands and on the basis of all that is said understand, what at that point in time is the most important thing to solve. I any case all our dialogues were always very constructive.”

The Inter captain said that if the chants against Balotelli ahd to be repeated he would ask the referee to stop the match. On Wednesday you were the protagonist of a beautiful gesture, going under the stands and telling the supporters to stop it. Do you agree, besides in this specific case, in general, would ask the referee to stop the match?

“I think one thing: racist chants or of this type do not do well not only with regards to football but also to society in general. My certainty is that the Juve supporters are very correct and surely they will not fall into the trap of singing offensive or racist chants against him. I am sure that the correctness of the Juve public is known worldwide”.

Your ardous gesture two years ago against Cagliari, which I am sure you remember well, represents a bit that which was the spirit of Juventus in that match and that which perhaps is the spirit you must always have and the attitude to maintain.

“That was a gesture that characterized not only that match but a long period of time which included 4 or 5 years, during which Juve had made out of great character and the will never to give up, its best weapon. Certainly, even now I think that we still show it sometimes but we must be more consistent in order to reach our goals and prestigious objectives. This is inevitable.”